Knockdown furniture construction

ABSTRACT

Knockdown furniture construction for a chest of drawers is provided. This includes a chest or cabinet and a plurality of drawers, all of which can be shipped and stored in a flat state and assembled by the consumer. The cabinet includes two sides which are assembled with a base and a top through connecting joints. A back is made in two sections which are received in grooves in the sides. Each of the drawers has sides assembled with a front and back through connecting joints and with a drawer bottom held in grooves by the sides and front and supported through the back by a separate connector. In a preferred form, the connecting joints comprise screws affixed to one component and openings formed in the other component to receive portions of the screws.

United States Paten 1 memo 2,980,482 4/1961 Baio 312/257 Amhboidiohio 435% 3,498,597 3/1970 Roberts et 31.... 220/4 x pp N9 1 3,416,850 12/1968 Hilfingeret al. 312/330 [22] Filed Sept. 115, 11969 l n [45] Patented Aug. 3 197]; Primary Examiner-Jordan Frankl n ASSAY/all! ExaminerGeo. V. Larkm Attorney-Allen D. Gutchess, Jr. I 54] KNOCKDOWN FURNITURE CUNSTRUCMUN M Claims, 118 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: Knockdown furniture construction for a chest of [52] US. Cl 312/257 drawers is provided This ihdudes a Chest or cabinet and a 1 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47K 43/00, rahty of drawers, 8 of which can be shipped and stored in a A47f47/00 flat state and assembled by the consumer. The cabinet in- [50] Field of Search 312/257- dudes two sides which are assembled with a base and a top -264, 330,333, 108, 350,205, 240,241,253. through connecting joints. A back is made in two sections 265 which are received in grooves in the sides. Each of the drawers 56] R (Ed has sides assembled with a front and back through connecting I e "antes 1 joints and with a drawer bottom held in grooves by the sides UNITED STATES PATENTS and front and supported through the back by a separate con- 4l8,447 12/1889 Clapp 312/330 nector. In a preferred form, the connecting joints comprise 2,499,299 2/1950 Curran 312/330 X screws affixed to one component and openings formed in the 2,968,5 l9 1/1961 Weber 312/204 other component to receive portions of the screws.

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PMENWJMBE 3W1 SHEET 3 [IF 3 TIE-1E- INVENTOR; ULLEY ULAUBEQ.

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ITNUCIFIDOWN FURNITURE CONSTFRIJCTIGN This invention relates to knockdown furniture construction and particularly to cabinets and drawers.

Numerous types of knockdown furniture are known in the art employing many designs of components and joints. Knockdown furniture is particularly advantageous because it can be shipped in a flat state, thereby enabling a substantial reduction in shipping costs. Storage requirements are also substantially reduced. Heretofore, however, knockdown furniture has received only limited acceptance because of various disadvantages and problems encountered with previous designs.

The present invention provides knockdown furniture construction which can be effectively incorporated in quality furniture and yet is low in cost. The joints in particular are strong and stable and yet are inexpensive and easily assembled by a consumer without difficulty, with minimum or no skill and tools being required. In a preferred form, the connecting joint for the furniture components comprises screws affixed to one component and openings in the other component which receive protruding portions of the screws. The components are easily assembled and yet the joint can be rigidly secured by a simple half-turn of the screws after assembly. This type of joint also is low in cost and yet is suitable for use with high quality furniture. Specifically, the invention is applicable to a chest of drawers, both to the chest or cabinet and to the drawers themselves, to enable the entire chest to be shipped in a fully knocked down state.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide knockdown furniture construction having the advantages outlined above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knockdown chest of drawers construction in which both the cabinet and the drawers can be shipped in a flat state.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of a chest of drawers con structed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in vertical cross sec tion taken along the line 22 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a part of a joint shown in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a rear view in perspective ofa drawer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in horizontal cross section taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken along the line 6% of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in perspective of a joint of the drawer of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 9 ofa slightly modified joint;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section similar to FIG. 7 ofa drawer employing slightly modified joints embodying the invention;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line ll2-ll2 ofFIG. ll;

FIG. 13 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 13-113 ofFIG. l2;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section, similar to FIGS. 7 and II, showing a further modified joint construction;

FIG. 15 is a view in perspective of a frontjoint of the drawer of FIG. 115;

FIG. 16 is a view in perspective ofa rear joint of the drawer of FIG. 14;

FIG. I? is a view in vertical section of a modified connector joining a drawer back and drawer bottom; and

FIG. I8 is a view in perspective of the connector of FIG. l7.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. ll-5, a chest of drawers constructed in accordance with the invention is indicated at 20 and includes a cabinet 22 and a drawer 24. The cabinet 22 his sides 26 and 26, a base 30, a top 32, and a back 34. The sides, base, and top are shown as being fabricated of hardboard and a frame but can be of any suitable type of construction. THe juncture of the sides 26 and 26 with the base 30 and the top 32 comprise knockdown joints which enable the components ofthe cabinet to be shipped and stored in a disassembled state and then easily assembled by a consumer. For this purpose, each of the four joints comprises a pair of screws 36 with threaded ends 36 which are partly driven or turned, in spaced relationship, into the base and top, leaving shanks 40 and heads 42 protruding. The screws 36 are shown as roundhead, although other types can be used. However, it is preferred, although not essential, that the heads 42 have a flat underside to provide stronger joints.

The second components of the joints comprise flanges or wooden strips 44 extending transversely to the sides 26 and 26 and having keyhole-shaped openings 46 (FIG. 5) formed therein. TI-Ie strips 44 can serve as drawer guides, as shown, when the cabinet is used for a chest of drawers. THe cabinet can be used for many other purposes, however, such as for storage of phonograph records. The openings 46 include enlarged portions 46 through which the heads of the screws are inserted and elongate portions 50 which receive the shanks 40 of the screws. TI-le openings 46 are spaced apart a distance equal to that of the screws 36 so that the heads of the screws 36 can be inserted in the large portions 48 of the openings 46 simultaneously. In assembling the cabinet 22, the sides 26 and 26 are first assembled with the base 36 by inserting the heads 42 of the screws 36 in the openings 46 and sliding the sides forwardly with respect to the base 30 until the shanks are at the ends of the openings 50. Tile screwheads 42 can then be tightened, as needed, approximately a half-turn, to provide a snug and secure joint.

The back 34 actually comprises two substantially equal sections 52 and 54. By making the back 34 of two sections, each of the sections is substantially no larger than the base, the top, or the sides so that no extra shipping and storage space is necessary. After the sides 26 and 23 and the base 30 are assembled, the sections 52 and 54 are aligned with and slid downwardly in vertical edge grooves 56 formed in the rear edges of the sides 26 and 23. By providing a close fit between the grooves and the back sections, additional stability can be imparted to the cabinet. The top 32 is subsequently assembled with the sides in the same general manner as the sides and the base but the top 32 preferably is slid rearwardly to the assembled position of FIG. 1 so as not to interfere with the back 34. The keyhole openings for the top therefore extend opposite to the openings for the base.

Referring now to the drawer construction of FIGS. 6- 9, the drawer 24 also can be shipped and stored in a fully disassembled state and quickly assembled by a consumer with minimum time, effort, and skill. Tl le drawer 24 includes a front 56, which can be of hollow core construction, a back 60, sides 62 and 64, and a bottom 66. The drawer 24 has knockdown joints at the junctures of the sides, front and back, and the drawer bottom is slidably engaged with the sides and front. At the junctures of the sides 62 and 64 and the front 58, a pair of screws 66 have threaded portions 70 turned into the front with shanks 72 and heads 74 protruding therefrom. The sides 62 and 64 have wooden strips or flanges 76 with angular openings 76 including elongate portions 80 and side portions or legs 62 which extend from the elongate portions to the edges of the flanges or strips 76. The legs 82 preferably slope downwardly, at a 45 angle, for example, to facilitate assembly. Similar angular openings can be substituted for the openings 46, if desired.

With this design, the sides 62 and 64 can be aligned with the screw shanks 72 and then moved downwardly and toward one another so that the shanks enter the legs 82 and are received in the elongate portions 80 of the openings 78, at which time the sides are pushed straight down so that the shanks are positioned at the upper ends of the elongate portions 80. The lower ends of the flanges 76, when assembled, preferably are closely adjacent the upper surface of the bottom 66 which extends into a lower groove 84 formed in the front 58. The bottom 66 is assembled with the front after the sides are in place with the bottom 66 being slid into lower side grooves 86 formed in the sides 62 and 64. With the bottom in place in the grooves, the sides are locked against disassembly relative to the front since the sides cannot then be raised to disengage the screws 68 from the openings 78.

The back 60 is then assembled with the sides 62 and 64. The back 60 has screws 88 extending beyond the ends thereof. These are received in angular end openings 90 in the sides 62 and 64, which are shaped similarly to the openings 78 but with the legs sloping upwardly and opening at the rear edges of the sides 62 and 64. The back 60 is assembled with the sides 62 and 64 by being moved downwardly until the shanks are at the ends of the openings and the lower edge of the back is adjacent the bottom 66.

An L-shaped connector or fastener 92 is turned into a central lower edge portion of the drawer back 60, and positioned parallelly with an elongate opening or slot 94 in the drawer bottom. The fastener 92 is aligned with the slot 94 when the back is assembled with the sides, with the fastener 92 extending a distance below the lower edge of the drawer back 60 less than the length of the vertical portions of the openings 90 and more than the thickness of the drawer bottom 66. This enables the fastener 92 to be above the drawer bottom 66 as the back 60 is moved into the openings 90 and then for the fastener to extend through the slot 94 as the back is moved downwardly into place with the lower edge of the back abutting the upper surfaceof the bottom 66. At this time, the fastener 92 can be turned about 90 to the transverse position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 to connect the bottom and back. The fastener 92 can be turned further into the lower edge of the back 60 as it is turned to the final position so that the exposed leg of the fastener will snugly engage the lower surface of the drawer bottom 66.

Tile screws 68 and 88 can be tightened, as necessary, after assembly to provide snug and secure fit for the joints of the drawer 24.

In place of the angular openings 78 or 90, keyhole-shaped openings 96 of FIG. 10 can be employed. These are similar to the openings 46 of FIG. and function in the same manner. When employed in the flanges 76 at the front of the drawer, the keyhole-shaped openings function as effectively as the openings 78. However, when employed in therear edge portions of the sides 62 and 64, the openings 96 are less desirable than the angular openings 90 because the sides 62 and 64 have to be spread apart to accommodate the back 60 as well as the protruding screws 88 as each end to enable the screwheads to be received in the openings. This tends to dislodge the bottom 66, rendering assembly more difficult.

A further slightly modified construction is shown in FIGS. 11-13. Basically, in this modification, the screws are assembled in the opposite components to those of FIGS. 6-9 with the openings being concealed rather than extending completely through the respective drawer components. A drawer side 98, in this instance, is assembled with a drawer front 100 by means of screws 102 projecting from the forward edge of the side. Tl-le head of the screw 102 is received in an opening 104 having a front keyhole-shaped configuration and a rear, generally elliptical configuration, as shown in FIG. 13. The opening 104 has an enlarged upper portion 106 which receives a head of the screw and has lower flanges 108 which cooperate with the screwhead when the side 98 is moved downwardly with respect to the front 100.

A drawer back 110 has screws 112 extending from the ends thereof with the screws 112 being received in recessed openings 114 in the rear end portions of the sides 98. The recessed construction of FIGS. 1l-l3 provide a more finished appearance but the screws cannot be tightened after assembly.

A further modified drawer construction is shown in FIGS. 14--16. Basically, in this construction, the screws and openings are replaced by formed metal strips. Accordingly, a drawer side 116 is assembled with a drawer front 118 by a formed metal strip connector 120. As shown particularly in FIG. 15, the strip connector 120 includes a fastening strip 122 affixed to the front 1 18 near end portions thereof by nails 124. An L-shaped flange 126 extends outwardly from the fastening strip 122 and end flanges 128 and 130 are bent outwardly from spaced portions of the fastening strip 122. TI-Ie flanges 128 and 130 engage the inner surface of the forward end of the side 116 while the flange 126 engages the outer surface of the end portion of the side 116, with the leg of the flange 126 received in a groove 132 formed in the side 116. A notch 134 in a lower portion of the strip connector 120 enables assembly of an edge portion of a drawer bottom 136 with a groove in the drawer front.

Another strip connector 138 is employed at the juncture of the drawer side 116 and a back 140. The strip connector 138 includes a fastening strip 142 affixed to an end portion of the back by nails 144. An L-shaped flange 146 extends from the fastening strip 142 and has a leg received in a narrow groove 148 of the side 116. The L-shaped flange 146 engages the outer surface of the drawer side 116 while the end of the drawer back 140 abuts the inner surface of the drawer side 1 16, the end of the drawer back 140 thereby serving the same purpose as the inner flanges 128 and 130 of the front strip connector 120.

As shown in FIG. 16, the lower end of the strip connector 138 and the lower edge of the drawer side 116 extend below the bottom 136 and ride on a drawer guide 150 which has an upwardly extending flange 152 located inside the sidewall 1 l6. THe guides 150 support and direct the drawer effectively without a center guide. Further, swelling of the wood in humid weather will not cause the drawer to stick..The guides'l50 can be mounted at suitable levels on the sidewalls of a cabinet or chest and can be combined with connecting flanges, where appropriate, as in the lower portion of the cabinet 22 of FIGS. 15.

A modified connector 154 of FIGS. 17 and 18 can be employed to connect a drawer back 156 and a drawer bottom 158, in place of the connector 92 and the slot 94. The connector 154 has a shank 160 terminating in an upper tang 162 which can be driven into the back surface of the drawer back 156 when a supporting flange 164 is aligned with the lower surface of the drawer bottom 158. Tl-le connector 154 supplies support for the rear central portion of the drawer bottom 158 with the other edges of the drawer bottom supported in the grooves of the sides and drawer front.

Various modifications of the above described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, the embodiments shown and described being primarily for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

I claim:

1. Knockdown furniture construction comprising a chest and a plurality of drawers, said chest having a base, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides having second assembly means associated with the lower edges thereof for assembly with said first assembly means of said base, said sides further having third assembly means associated with upper edges thereof, and said sides having drawer supports, said top having fourth assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions for assembly with said third assembly means of said sides, said sides each having a groove extending vertically thereof near rear vertical edges thereof, said back comprising two separate sections having ends slidably received in said grooves and located in coplanar relationship when assembled with said grooves, each of said drawers comprising a drawer front, two sides, a back, and a bottom, said drawer front having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions of the back of said drawer front, said drawer sides having second assembly means associated with front edges thereof for assembly with said first drawer assembly means of said drawer front, said drawer sides having third assembly means associated with rear edges of said drawer sides, said drawer back having fourth assembly means at ends thereof for assembly with said third drawer assembly means of said sides, said drawer bottom having edges connected with said drawer front, said drawer sides, and said drawer back to prevent movement of any of said drawer front, sides and back in directions transversely of said drawer bottom.

2. A knockdown cabinet construction comprising a cabinet case, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly. means transversely positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides having second assembly means associated with the lower edges thereof for assembly with said first assembly means of said base, said cabinet sides further having third assembly means associated with upper edges thereof, said cabinet top having fourth assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions for assembly with said third assembly means of said cabinet sides, said cabinet sides having back-receiving means near rear vertical edges thereof, said back having ends received by said back-receiving means, said first and second assembly means comprising at least two screws and openings receiving said screws and said third and fourth assembly means comprising screws and openings receiving said screws.

3. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 2 characterized by said first and fourth assembly means being the screws and said second and third assembly means being the openings.

4. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 3 characterized by said openings being of keyhole shape.

5. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 2 wherein said back-receiving means for each of said cabinet sides comprising a groove extending vertically, and said back comprises two separate sections having ends slidably received by said grooves and located in coplanar relationship when assembled with said grooves.

6. A knockdown cabinet construction comprising a cabinet base, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides having second assembly means associated with the lower edges thereof for assembly with said first assembly means of said base, said cabinet sides further having third assembly means associated with upper edges thereof, said cabinet top having fourth assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions for assembly with said third assembly means of said cabinet sides, said cabinet sides each having a groove extending vertically near vertical rear edges thereof, said back comprising two separate sections having ends slidably received in said grooves and located in coplanar relationship when assembled with said grooves.

7. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 6 wherein said first and second assembly means comprises at least two screws and openings receiving said screws.

3. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 7 characterized further by said third and fourth assembly means comprising screws and openings receiving said screws.

9. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 6 characterized by said first and fourth assembly means being screws and said second and third assembly means being openings.

10. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 9 characterized by said openings being of keyhole shape.

lll. A knockdown cabinet construction comprising a cabinet base, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembl means corn rising at least two threaded fasteners positioned near e ge portions thereof, said sides each comprising a rectangular wooden frame and an outer panel, lower frame members of each of said sides having second assembly means in the form of openings to receive said threaded fasteners of said first assembly means, upper frame members of said cabinet sides having third assembly means in the form of openings, said cabinet top having fourth assembly means comprising at least two threaded fasteners positioned near edge portions thereof for being received by said openings of said third assembly means, said cabinet sides each having back-receiving means in rear frame members thereof, said back having edge portions received by said back-receiving means.

12. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 11 characterized by all of said openings being of keyhole shape.

13. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 11 wherein said back-receiving means of said rear frame members constitute vertically extending grooves of a width sufficient to receive the edge portions of said back.

114. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 13 characterized by said back comprising two separate sections which are held in coplanar relationship when received in said grooves. 

1. Knockdown furniture construction comprising a chest and a plurality of drawers, said chest having a base, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides having second assembly means associated with the lower edges thereof for assembly with said first assembly means of said base, said sides further having third assembly means associated with upper edges thereof, and said sides having drawer supports, said top having fourth assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions for assembly with said third assembly means of said sides, said sides each having a groove extending vertically thereof near rear vertical edges thereof, said back comprising two separate sections having ends slidably received in said grooves and located in coplanar relationship when assembled with said grooves, each of said drawers comprising a drawer front, two sides, a back, and a bottom, said drawer front having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions of the back of said drawer front, said drawer sides having second assembly means associated with front edges thereof for assembly with said first drawer assembly means of said drawer front, said drawer sides having third assembly means associated with rear edges of said drawer sides, said drawer back having fourth assembly means at ends thereof for assembly with said third drawer assembly means of said sides, said drawer bottom having edges connected with said drawer front, said drawer sides, and said drawer back to prevent movement of any of said drawer front, sides and back in directions transversely of said drawer bottom.
 2. A knockdown cabinet construction comprising a cabinet case, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides having second assembly means associated with the lower edges thereof for assembly with said first assembly means of said base, said cabinet sides further having third assembly means associated with upper edges thereof, said cabinet top having fourth assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions for assembly with said third assembly means of said cabinet sides, said cabinet sides having back-receiving means near rear vertical edges thereof, said back having ends received by said back-receiving means, said first and second assembly means comprising at least two screws and openings receiving said screws and said third and fourth assembly means comprising screws and openings receiving said screws.
 3. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 2 characterized by said first and fourth assembly means being the screws and said second and third assembly means being the openings.
 4. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 3 characterized by said openings being of keyhole shape.
 5. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 2 wherein said back-receiving means for each of said cabinet sides coMprising a groove extending vertically, and said back comprises two separate sections having ends slidably received by said grooves and located in coplanar relationship when assembled with said grooves.
 6. A knockdown cabinet construction comprising a cabinet base, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides having second assembly means associated with the lower edges thereof for assembly with said first assembly means of said base, said cabinet sides further having third assembly means associated with upper edges thereof, said cabinet top having fourth assembly means transversely positioned near edge portions for assembly with said third assembly means of said cabinet sides, said cabinet sides each having a groove extending vertically near vertical rear edges thereof, said back comprising two separate sections having ends slidably received in said grooves and located in coplanar relationship when assembled with said grooves.
 7. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 6 wherein said first and second assembly means comprises at least two screws and openings receiving said screws.
 8. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 7 characterized further by said third and fourth assembly means comprising screws and openings receiving said screws.
 9. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 6 characterized by said first and fourth assembly means being screws and said second and third assembly means being openings.
 10. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 9 characterized by said openings being of keyhole shape.
 11. A knockdown cabinet construction comprising a cabinet base, two sides, a top, and a back, said base having first assembly means comprising at least two threaded fasteners positioned near edge portions thereof, said sides each comprising a rectangular wooden frame and an outer panel, lower frame members of each of said sides having second assembly means in the form of openings to receive said threaded fasteners of said first assembly means, upper frame members of said cabinet sides having third assembly means in the form of openings, said cabinet top having fourth assembly means comprising at least two threaded fasteners positioned near edge portions thereof for being received by said openings of said third assembly means, said cabinet sides each having back-receiving means in rear frame members thereof, said back having edge portions received by said back-receiving means.
 12. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 11 characterized by all of said openings being of keyhole shape.
 13. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 11 wherein said back-receiving means of said rear frame members constitute vertically extending grooves of a width sufficient to receive the edge portions of said back.
 14. A knockdown cabinet construction according to claim 13 characterized by said back comprising two separate sections which are held in coplanar relationship when received in said grooves. 